Early Brain Development and Child Nutrition and Obesity

Johns Hopkins University

Summary

The investigators project, RESONATE, aims to investigate why some children develop obesity. To do this it uses data on eating and eating-related behaviors, genetic and environmental factors, and brain structure and function. This data is collected in a sub-sample of RESONANCE, a large study of families of children from infancy through childhood. The results will lay foundations for the development of early interventions to prevent or treat obesity.

Description

Obesity risk shows individual variation such that some children are more likely than others to gain excess weight. One potential reason is that, due to genetic and environmental factors, individuals vary in appetitive behaviors that drive food intake and weight. However, the neurodevelopmental mechanisms underpinning variation in appetite and weight, and effects of risk and protective factors on those outcomes, are not understood. Preliminary data from RESONANCE, the investigators large MRI cohort, suggests obesity risk factors such as maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and obesity-associated gene…

Eligibility

Age range: 7–12 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: Yes

Detailed criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants from the RESONANCE cohort are eligible if the participant will reach 7-12 years of age during the proposed project period and have no food allergies. Exclusion Criteria: * Exclusion criteria for RESONANCE include: 1. In utero exposure to alcohol, cigarette, or illicit substances; 2. First trimester fetal US abnormalities; 3. Complicated pregnancy (e.g., pre-eclampsia); 4. Complicated delivery, including APGAR scores less than 8 and/or neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission; 5. History of neurological (e.g., epilepsy), psychiatric (e.g., a…

Interventions

Other
fMRI cue reactivity task
Measures effect of food and non-food cues on brain activation
Other
fMRI go no go task
Measures effect of food and non-food cues on inhibitory responses and brain activation
Other
Ad libitum meal test
Measures effect of exposure to multi-item buffet meal on food intake
Other
Eating in the absence of hunger test
Measures effect of exposure to palatable snacks on food intake

Locations (4)

Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Inc.
Baltimore, Maryland
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, Maryland
Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, Rhode Island
viren_dsa@brown.edu 312-371-4178
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington